{"id":10109,"date":"2025-02-21T15:08:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T19:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/l-a-paul-on-becoming-a-vampire-whether-or-not-to-have-kids-getting-incredible-mentorship-for-250-transformative-experiences-and-more-796\/"},"modified":"2025-02-21T15:08:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T19:08:36","slug":"l-a-paul-on-becoming-a-vampire-whether-or-not-to-have-kids-getting-incredible-mentorship-for-250-transformative-experiences-and-more-796","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/l-a-paul-on-becoming-a-vampire-whether-or-not-to-have-kids-getting-incredible-mentorship-for-250-transformative-experiences-and-more-796\/","title":{"rendered":"L.A. Paul \u2014 On Becoming a Vampire, Whether or Not to Have Kids, Getting Incredible Mentorship for $250, Transformative Experiences, and More (#796)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Whether or Not to Have Kids, Transformative Experiences, and More \u2014 L.A. Paul\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iyRAAMnaJqk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration.jpg?resize=600%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-107746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C819&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C240&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C614&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1229&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1638&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Paul-Illustration-scaled.jpg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, 600px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustration via <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/99designs.com\/tim\">99designs<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cYou can read all the theory in the world, but when you experience it, it gives you a different way of understanding. And that\u2019s what I\u2019m saying. Just like seeing red for the first time. You can hear all about red, but when you see it, you\u2019re like, whoa, wait, there\u2019s something there that\u2019s more. The theory, the words aren\u2019t sufficient to express all of the content.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014 L.A. Paul<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>L.A. Paul<\/strong> (<a href=\"http:\/\/lapaul.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lapaul.org<\/a>) is the Millstone Family Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Cognitive Science at Yale University, where she leads the Self and Society Initiative for the Wu Tsai Institute. Her research explores questions about the nature of the self and decision-making and the metaphysics and cognitive science of time, cause, and experience.<\/p>\n<p>She is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Humanities Center, and the Australian National University. She is the author of <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Transformative-Experience-L-Paul-ebook\/dp\/B00NHNGXBC\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Transformative Experience<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>and coauthor of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Causation-Users-Guide-L-Paul-ebook\/dp\/B00EEJ1P4S\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Causation: A User\u2019s Guide<\/em><\/a>, which was awarded the American Philosophical Association Sanders Book Prize. Her work on transformative experience has been covered by <em>The New York Times<\/em>, <em>The Wall Street Journal<\/em>, <em>The Guardian<\/em>, NPR, and the BBC, among others. And in 2024, she was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2024\/12\/09\/the-philosopher-l-a-paul-wants-us-to-think-about-our-selves\">profiled by <em>The New Yorker<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She is currently working on a book, under contract with Farrar, Straus and Giroux, about self-construction, transformative experience, humility, and fear of mental corruption.<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy!<\/p>\n<p><strong><strong>Listen to the episode on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/796-l-a-paul-on-becoming-a-vampire-whether-or\/id863897795?i=1000694478119\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/1FNOwQfiOU5NiADyLMDBrP?si=ZDSCWHtGTNue0Aa-_3LKcg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebucq8-E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overcast<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcastaddict.com\/podcast\/2031148#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Podcast Addict<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pca.st\/timferriss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pocket Casts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1059468?country=us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Castbox<\/a>,\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLuu6fDad2eJyWPm9dQfuorm2uuYHBZDCB\">YouTube Music<\/a>,\u00a0<strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/9814f3cc-1dc5-4003-b816-44a8eb6bf666\/the-tim-ferriss-show\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon Music<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/podcast\/The-Tim-Ferriss-Show\/B08K58QX5W\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Audible<\/a>, or on your favorite podcast platform<\/strong>. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <a href=\"https:\/\/mudwtr.com\/tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MUDWTR<\/a>\u00a0energy-boosting coffee alternative\u2014without the jitters; <a href=\"https:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eight Sleep\u2019s Pod 4 Ultra<\/a>\u00a0sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating; and <a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn Ads<\/a>, the go-to tool for B2B marketers and advertisers who want to drive brand awareness and generate leads.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/796-l-a-paul-on-becoming-a-vampire-whether-or\/id863897795?i=1000694478119\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/apple-podcast.png?w=600&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Apple Podcasts<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/1FNOwQfiOU5NiADyLMDBrP?si=ZDSCWHtGTNue0Aa-_3LKcg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"167\" height=\"167\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/spotify.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Spotify<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebucq8-E\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/overcast.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Overcast<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-player\">\n<div class=\"podcast-player-inner-wrap\">\n<p>#796: L.A. Paul \u2014 On Becoming a Vampire, Whether or Not to Have Kids, Getting Incredible Mentorship for $250, Transformative Experiences, and More (#796)<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.art19.com\/shows\/58dacbdc-646e-4585-9914-19c3de11d1ba\/episodes\/e6b8e87f-8823-4d6f-8b6e-4e8f8955cb59\/embed?type=micro\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 30px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mudwtr.com\/tim\">MUDWTR<\/a>!<\/strong> With only a fraction of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mudwtr.com\/tim\">MUDWTR<\/a> gives me all the energy I need without the jitters or crash. Their original blend contains four different mushrooms: lion\u2019s mane for focus, cordyceps to promote energy, and both chaga and reishi to support a healthy immune system. And it\u2019s delicious\u2014like cacao and chai had a beautiful child. I drink <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mudwtr.com\/tim\">MUDWTR<\/a> in the morning, and I\u2019ll also sometimes add milk and ice for a 2 p.m. iced latte pick-me-up. I also love that they make monthly donations to support psychedelic therapeutics and research, including organizations such as the Heroic Hearts Project and The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Now you can get 15% off plus a free rechargeable frother and free shipping by going to <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mudwtr.com\/tim\"><strong>mudwtr.com\/tim<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> Enjoy MUDWTR and get a better morning routine.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Eight Sleep<\/strong><\/a><strong>. <\/strong>Temperature is one of the main causes of poor sleep, and heat is my personal nemesis. I\u2019ve suffered for decades, tossing and turning, throwing blankets off, pulling them back on, and repeating ad nauseam. But a few years ago, I started using the Pod Cover, and it has transformed my sleep. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">Eight Sleep has launched their newest generation of the Pod: Pod 4 Ultra<\/a>.<\/strong> It cools, it heats, and now it elevates, automatically. With the best temperature performance to date, Pod 4 Ultra ensures you and your partner stay cool in the heat and cozy warm in the cold. Plus, it automatically tracks your sleep time, snoring, sleep stages, and HRV, all with high precision. For example, their heart rate tracking is at an incredible 99% accuracy.<\/p>\n<p>Pod 4 Ultra also introduces an adjustable Base that fits between your mattress and your bed frame to add custom positions for the best sleeping experience. Plus, it automatically reduces your snoring when detected. Add it easily to any bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>And now, listeners of <em>The Tim Ferriss Show<\/em> can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">get $350 off<\/a> of the Pod 4 Ultra for a limited time! <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">Click here to claim this deal and unlock your full potential through optimal sleep<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn Ads<\/a><\/strong>, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">go-to tool for B2B marketers and advertisers<\/a><\/strong> who want to drive brand awareness, generate leads, or build long-term relationships that result in real business impact.<\/p>\n<p>With a community of more than 900 million professionals,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is gigantic, but it can be hyper-specific. You have access to a diverse group of people all searching for things they need to grow professionally.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has the marketing tools to help you target your customers with precision, right down to job title, company name, industry, etc.\u00a0<strong>To redeem your free $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/TFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn.com\/TFS<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/11\/14\/derek-sivers-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Want to hear<\/a> an episode with someone who applies philosophy to his daily life?<\/strong> Listen to my most recent conversation with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/11\/14\/derek-sivers-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Derek Sivers<\/a><\/strong> in which we discussed Emirati coffee, cuddly rats, Brian Eno, John Cage, practical applications of simplicity, traveling to inhabit philosophies, <a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/11\/14\/derek-sivers-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">and much more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know <a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2025\/02\/21\/l-a-paul-transformative-experiences\/#respond\">in the comments<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"more-107733\"\/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE<\/h3>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lapaul.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/transformative-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Transformative Experience:<\/a><\/strong> A central theme in L. A. Paul\u2019s work, referring to life-changing experiences that fundamentally alter one\u2019s identity and preferences, making it difficult to make rational decisions about them beforehand.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/analysis\/s6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Analytic Philosophy:<\/a><\/strong> A style of philosophy that emphasizes clarity, rigor, and logical analysis, often with close ties to science and mathematics.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/causation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Causation:<\/a><\/strong> The relationship between cause and effect, and how we understand the forces that drive the world forward.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money\/rational-choice-theory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rational Choice Theory:<\/a><\/strong> The framework for understanding how individuals make decisions based on maximizing their expected value.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/identity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Identity:<\/a><\/strong> How we understand ourselves and our persistence through time.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thereader.mitpress.mit.edu\/discovery-mind-body-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Mind-Body Problem:<\/a><\/strong> A philosophical problem concerning the relationship between thought and consciousness in the human mind and body.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/epistemology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epistemology:<\/a><\/strong> The theory of knowledge, dealing with questions about how we know what we know and the nature of understanding.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/logic-classical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Logic:<\/a><\/strong> The science of the formal principles of reasoning.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibm.com\/think\/topics\/chain-of-thoughts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chain of Thoughts (CoT):<\/a><\/strong> In LLMs, chain of thought (CoT) mirrors human reasoning, facilitating systematic problem-solving through a coherent series of logical deductions.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themarginalian.org\/2017\/09\/13\/transformative-experience-vampire-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Vampire Problem:<\/a><\/strong> A thought experiment used by Paul to illustrate transformative experience.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/mental-health\/stockholm-syndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stockholm Syndrome:<\/a><\/strong> A psychological response that causes survivors of abuse to sympathize with their abuser.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/qualia-knowledge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Knowledge Argument:<\/a><\/strong> Analytic philosopher Frank Jackson\u2019s thought experiment intended to argue against physicalism.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lapaul.org\/papers\/Who%20will%20I%20become.LA%20Paul.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Act-State Independence:<\/a><\/strong> A principle in rational choice theory that assumes the act of making a choice does not change the decision-maker\u2019s preferences.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/metaphysics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metaphysics:<\/a><\/strong> The branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental nature of reality.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gravimetric_analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gravimetric Analysis:<\/a><\/strong> A set of methods used in analytical chemistry for quantitative determination based on mass.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/counterfactuals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Counterfactuals:<\/a><\/strong> Statements about what could have been, but wasn\u2019t.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/nihilism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nihilism:<\/a><\/strong> A philosophical viewpoint that suggests life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/scienceexchange.caltech.edu\/topics\/quantum-science-explained\/quantum-physics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Quantum Physics:<\/a><\/strong> The study of matter and energy at the most fundamental level.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Time:<\/a><\/strong> The nature of time, both as a physical phenomenon and as a subjective experience.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/freewill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Will:<\/a><\/strong> The capacity or ability to choose between different possible courses of action.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/fatalism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fatalism:<\/a><\/strong> The view that we are powerless to do anything other than what we actually do.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/existentialism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Existentialism:<\/a><\/strong> A family of philosophical views that study existence from the individual\u2019s perspective.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kXRmymmSRiI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Continental Philosophy:<\/a><\/strong> A tradition of philosophy originating in mainland Europe.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/phenomenology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Phenomenology:<\/a><\/strong> A philosophical approach that focuses on the study of subjective experience and consciousness.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bioethics.jhu.edu\/about\/what-is-bioethics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bioethics:<\/a><\/strong> A field of study that examines the ethical implications of advancements in biology and medicine.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/metaethics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metaethics:<\/a><\/strong> The attempt to understand the presuppositions of moral thought and practice.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/mysticism\/#Inef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ineffability:<\/a><\/strong> The inability to fully describe or express certain experiences through language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Books and Recommended Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Movies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Institutions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>People<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevant Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SHOW NOTES<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>[00:05:55] The role of Quentin Smith.<\/li>\n<li>[00:09:56] Early philosophy class disasters.<\/li>\n<li>[00:13:34] How is philosophy relevant to the average person?<\/li>\n<li>[00:20:17] A correspondence experiment with philosophers.<\/li>\n<li>[00:25:29] The role of philosophy in modern times.<\/li>\n<li>[00:27:50] The vampire problem.<\/li>\n<li>[00:39:31] What you can\u2019t expect when you\u2019re expecting.<\/li>\n<li>[00:42:36] When transformative experiences happen without our consent.<\/li>\n<li>[00:48:12] Choosing between potentially transformative experiences.<\/li>\n<li>[00:52:09] How Laurie made the choice to have children.<\/li>\n<li>[00:56:34] What galvanized Laurie\u2019s trajectory from hard sciences to philosophy?<\/li>\n<li>[01:01:14] Recommended reading for the novice philosopher.<\/li>\n<li>[01:02:59] An aside defining counterfactuals.<\/li>\n<li>[01:07:15] What makes understanding analytic philosophy a worthwhile endeavor?<\/li>\n<li>[01:10:29] What readers can expect of Laurie\u2019s book, <em>Transformative Experience<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>[01:12:30] Epistemology.<\/li>\n<li>[01:13:15] How to maintain a passion for philosophy.<\/li>\n<li>[01:17:21] Commonly misrepresented philosophical concepts.<\/li>\n<li>[01:19:59] Continental philosophy.<\/li>\n<li>[01:21:48] Philosophy beyond the academic.<\/li>\n<li>[01:23:46] Laurie vs. Agnes Callard.<\/li>\n<li>[01:25:34] Aristotle vs. drugs.<\/li>\n<li>[01:32:01] Thoughts on life\u2019s final transformative experience: death.<\/li>\n<li>[01:35:48] Forgiving the philosophers and other parting thoughts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MORE L. A. PAUL QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u201cI care very much about the nature of how we live our lives, the kinds of struggles that individual people have. I\u2019m fascinated by the fact that all of us have these internal worlds, and then there\u2019s some way in which we all have these internal worlds, and then these internal worlds have to kind of coexist with the external world, and we have to try to make sense of everything, and try to understand other people.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cNobody ever argues someone into religious belief or losing it. It\u2019s all about occupying a different conceptual space, and that just foundationally changes the way you understand the world.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cWhen we\u2019re walking around being our skin-encapsulated ego, there\u2019s a lot we take for granted.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cUsing the examples of time travel, it can draw out first how we have to think about time in the ordinary sense, because we can contrast it to the possibility of time as having either another dimension or branching, or in some sense, us being able to move against the arrow of time from the past to the future.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI think it\u2019s super important to distinguish between our experience of time and time itself. \u2026 The easiest way to see the difference is [to] imagine you\u2019re in a really boring lecture and you\u2019re just sitting there like, \u2018Oh, this is lasting forever.\u2019 And you look at the clock and you realize you\u2019re only 15 minutes in.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cYou can read all the theory in the world, but when you experience it it gives you a different way of understanding. And that\u2019s what I\u2019m saying. Just like seeing red for the first time. You can hear all about red, but when you see it you\u2019re like, whoa, wait, there\u2019s something there that\u2019s more. The theory, the words aren\u2019t sufficient to express all of the content.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\u2014\u00a0L. A. Paul<\/p>\n<p><h3 class=\"jp-relatedposts-headline\"><em>Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/podcast\"><strong>The Tim Ferriss Show<\/strong><\/a> <\/em><span>is one <\/span>of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for &#8220;Best of Apple Podcasts&#8221; three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it&#8217;s been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/podcast\">this page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Illustration via 99designs \u201cYou can read all the theory in the world, but when you experience it, it gives you a different way of understanding. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10110,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}